【 OCEAN OF MANA, THE UNDERSEA WORLD 】

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After adjusting the orientation of his head and feet with a slight movement of his body, Cypher finally adapted to the sensation of being inverted.

Under the magical effect of the badge, he drifted like a falling leaf, slowly descending toward the vast and boundless world of ruins below.

Indeed.

A world of ruins.

Gazing at the endless expanse beneath him, Cypher felt that it was no different from an entirely new world.

Looking downward, it was shrouded in a dense fog, obscuring everything. However, towering monoliths could be seen piercing through the fog.

They stood in concentric formations, arranged according to some hidden pattern, resembling a colossal magical array that spanned the entire world.

From above, these monoliths appeared small. Yet as he continued to descend, they grew steadily larger in his field of vision.

Only upon drawing closer did Cypher realize that each of these monoliths was a colossal structure, likely comparable in size to entire boulders, with each one rising like a towering mountain.

As he continued to descend, a faint mist gradually gathered around him.

No, it was not an ordinary mist.

Rather, it appeared to be a manifestation of highly active magical energy, essentially a vapor formed from concentrated mana.

In the game system’s output readings, Cypher observed that the numerical indicator of mana density of the area was rising rapidly.

At the same time, he felt as though each breath he took was akin to consuming a fruit that restored MP, as vast quantities of magical energy flowed continuously into his body.

It was to the extent that the MP expenditure of the concealment spell he was using was negligible as it kept being replenished.

Moreover, he could sense that the mana within his body continued to increase at an astonishing rate.

It refined his physique and expanded his internal reserves of magical power.

Such a phenomenon, which would normally only occur after prolonged and rigorous training using rare, high-level meditation techniques, was now unfolding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

If not for the current level cap being limited to level 60, Cypher believed he might have instantly broken through to the higher-tier of Silver-rank.

Watching the numerical changes in his status screen, his heart filled with joy.

At that moment, however, he suddenly heard a long, resonant cry echoing from afar.

The sound was ethereal, as if it had come from ancient times, carrying with it a profound sense of age and weight.

In the next instant, a vast shadow appeared above him.

Raising his head in alarm, Cypher’s eyes widened.

Above him, a colossal, illusory beast was slowly swimming within the fog.

It resembled an enormous whale, its form somewhat indistinct and ethereal.

Before it, Cypher seemed insignificant as an ant.

Sensing the terrifying aura the beast emitted, he held his breath, not daring to make the slightest movement.

Fortunately, the phantom whale seemed uninterested in him, as well as in the others who were also descending.

It simply glided through the fog with a slow, majestic rhythm before gradually fading into the haze, its immense silhouette dissolving into nothingness.

Its calls lingered long after its form had vanished, echoing like a mournful lament of the dead as they stretched farther and farther into the distance.

With the massive phantasmal beast finally gone, Cypher released the breath he had been holding, his chest rising and falling as relief washed over him.

Yet in the very next moment, his attention was abruptly drawn elsewhere.

Without warning, thousands upon thousands of illusory flying fish swept past him, weaving through the mist in a dazzling display.

They moved as one, like a living current, surrounding him in a magnificent spectacle that shimmered with faint, ethereal light.

Each of these fish measured only about ten centimeters in length. Their appearance was nearly identical to the schooling fish he was familiar with, yet, like the whale, their bodies were faint and intangible.

At first, Cypher thought these things were merely an illusion.

However, when he cautiously reached out his hand, he was astonished to discover that he could actually touch them.

His movement startled the creatures, and they quickly scattered.

As the school of fish dispersed, Cypher drew closer to the ground.

Meanwhile, the surrounding fog grew ever denser.

Observing the shifting scenery around him, his expression quickly transitioned from surprise to awe.

This seems to be a world predominantly composed of ocean…

Cypher thought in quiet wonder.

Schools of fish swam through the air in ever-increasing numbers, encompassing countless varieties and forms. Transparent jellyfish drifted nearby with slow, pulsing movements, their faint glow illuminating the surrounding mist, while many other strange and wondrous marine creatures glided silently through the space as though carried by unseen currents.

For a fleeting moment, Cypher could not help but feel as though he had descended to the depths of a vast continental shelf, surrounded on all sides by the quiet majesty of the deep sea.

Yet, unlike the ocean depths he imagined, he could breathe with complete ease. There was no pressure upon his body, nor the sensation of water enveloping him.

Instead, there was only an overwhelming density of magical energy, so concentrated that it had coalesced into drifting mist that permeated every corner of this world.

And among all these oceanic beings, there was one shared, unmistakable trait.

Their forms remained indistinct and ethereal, wavering at the edges like reflections upon water, as though what he was witnessing was not entirely real, but rather a vivid and fleeting dream.

However, the occasional tactile sensation he felt upon touching them proved that this was by no means a dream.

“What a strange place…”

Cypher continued his descent, and the world below gradually became much clearer.

The fog no longer obscured his vision and what appeared before him was a scene akin to an undersea world.

Strange rays of light projected through the faint haze, forming streaks reminiscent of sunlight filtering through the oceanfloor.

The light refracted and shimmered, displaying iridescent hues that illuminated this extraordinary place before his eyes.

On the ground grew clusters of vibrant coral, their dazzling colors forming a magnificent undersea forest.

Small, peculiar fish wandered freely among the corals, swimming at ease. Various unusual shellfish, starfish, jellyfish, and seaweed of many colors could also be seen, swaying gracefully under the shifting interplay of light and shadow.

Gazing at the dreamlike scenery, Cypher’s face filled with astonishment.

“So beautiful… Where exactly is this place? An undersea world?”

On his interface, the numerical value representing mana density had already reached a level that made even him uneasy. With every breath, it felt as though he were immersed in an ocean of magical energy.

As his body slowly descended, Cypher finally landed upon the ground.

Yet, observing the strange surroundings, he felt that it would be more appropriate to call it the seabed.

However, just like the giant whale and the schools of fish he had seen earlier, the corals, seaweed, fish, shrimp, and jellyfish before him, while vividly colorful, all carried a faintly illusory and ethereal quality.

It was not as though Cypher had never witnessed the beauty of an undersea world.

In fact, several years ago, he had traveled to a renowned diving destination in Malaysia to experience the splendor of an oceanic coral forest firsthand.

At that time, he had already been deeply awed by the grandeur and magnificence of the underwater world.

Yet the scene before him now made those once breathtaking sights seem almost trivial by comparison.

This world was layered and boundless, vibrant in color, and dreamlike in its ethereality.

Standing within such a magnificent landscape, Cypher, in his excitement, first took several screenshots.

He then activated the in-game video recording function.

At that moment, within the group chat formed by the ten players, the chat channel had already erupted with activity.

‘Whoa! Holy crap! Where did we end up? An undersea world? This is unbelievably beautiful!’

‘That giant whale! Did you guya all see that illusory whale just now? It was so enormous, at least several hundred meters long!’

The chat was filled with such messages full of excitement.

Even though they had already witnessed countless beautiful scenes in Elven Kingdom, this experience once again left them in awe.

Of course, despite their amazement, they did not forget their mission.

‘Guys, hold off on taking screenshots for now. Everyone, let’s regroup and rendezvous with Kelez.’

Li Mu typed in the chat.

After being included to the faith network and formally becoming an NPC, Kelez had gained the ability to form parties with the players.

Thus, before entering the ruins, he had already joined their team.

Cypher glanced at the minimap and saw that the marker representing Kelez was flashing approximately five kilometers away.

The other players were also scattered throughout the nearby area.

Their locations were not far. With the mobility of Silver-ranked experts, they could regroup quickly.

To speed things up, Cyber thought for a moment and activated his racial class skill to transform into a Blood Elf, while also casting buffs like [Lightness Spell] on himself.

However, after casting the spell, he noticed an even more striking difference.

Spells that had originally required incantations were now cast instantly, and the mana expenditure was replenished almost immediately with each breath he took.

More than that, although [Lightness] was an ordinary spell, upon casting it, Cypher was astonished to find that the surrounding elemental forces seemed to surge violently, converging toward him in a frenzy.

What had once merely reduced his body weight by thirty percent now exhibited an astonishing effect and Cypher felt as though he had become as light as a feather.

With a gentle leap, he soared directly into the air.

Seems like casting spells in this place resulted in tremendous amplification.

This thought flashed through Cypher’s mind.

Following the marker on the minimap, he recorded his route while heading toward Kelez’s location.

He had been the farthest out of everyone and by the time he arrived, the other players were already present.

The area Kelez had chosen contained relatively fewer marine creatures, giving it a somewhat desolate appearance.

At that moment, the legendary elven warrior stood atop a hill covered in seaweed. As he gazed at the towering monoliths in the distance, he began explaining the nature of this ruin-world to the surrounding players:

“Chosen Ones of the Divine Matriarch, as you can see, this ruin manifests as an undersea world.”

“However, what fills this world is not water, but active magical energy. You may regard this place as an ocean of mana.”

“Do you see those marine creatures? Although they appear illusory, they truly do exist. However, they are not ordinary lifeforms, but beings formed from the activation of magic.”

“Or, to put it another way, they are energy-based lifeforms.”

“This entire ruin-world is itself composed of potent magical energy.”

Hearing Kelez’s explanation, the ten players widened their eyes in astonishment.

“My god… a world purely made of concentrated mana…? So let’s say we meditate here, does that mean our progress would skyrocket?”

Demacia could not help but exclaim.

Kelez glanced at him and shook his head.

“No. That won’t be the case.”

As he spoke, he casually teased a small fish that had drifted close to him, then continued:

“In truth, an excessively high concentration of mana is not a good thing. When you first arrive here, you will feel an unprecedented sense of exhilaration, and even your physical abilities will improve significantly. However, the longer you remain here, the more magical energy will accumulate within your bodies.”

“The mana here differs somewhat from that of the outside world. It is far more active. Once it fills every part of your body that can contain it, it will begin to assimilate your flesh.”

“Therefore, if you remain here for too long, you will ultimately be assimilated into energy-based lifeforms.”

“And once you become an energy-based being, then you may at any time become prey for other such beings living within this world.”

Upon hearing Kelez’s warning, the players felt a chill run through their hearts.

Kelez continued his explanation:

“Do not assume that becoming an energy lifeform is beneficial. Even if you are not hunted by others, you will no longer be able to leave this ruin-world.”

“This place is both the home of energy lifeforms and their prison.”

“Any energy lifeform that attempts to leave this place will instantly lose its energetic activity and condense into a mana crystal.”

“In other words… you will die.”

“Therefore, assimilation means being permanently trapped here.”

Kelez’s expression was grave.

Yet, after hearing his words, the players did not become fearful. Instead, their eyes lit up with excitement.

Optimist, in particular, stared fixedly at the magnificent corals and seaweed, his gaze almost vacant with fascination.

“Ma… Mana crystals? Do the creatures here turn into mana crystals if taken outside?”

Calabash’s eyes widened.

He swallowed hard and muttered, “Good heavens… how much contribution points would that be worth…”

“Hiss… what if I deliberately become an energy lifeform and have someone carry me out of the ruins? Wouldn’t that mean I could have a life-sized mana crystal statue of myself? How much contribution points would something like that fetch?”

Demacia spoke with eager anticipation.

The other players: “…”

Kelez: “…”

Having already become an NPC, he naturally understood what contribution points was.

He also knew that these individuals could infinitely revive in the world of Seigües after death.

At Demacia’s words, Little Salty Cat rolled her eyes at him.

“Pssh, you only thought of turning your body into mana crystal? Why not find a way to take that whale out instead?”

Demacia: “…”

“Damn! Sister Cat, that’s brilliant! If we could really bring out a whole whale out, then we’d be filthy rich!”

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

Until Dōngdōng poured cold water on the idea:

“Wake up you two. Judging from the aura of that whale earlier, even if all of us were in the Godwarden state, we probably still wouldn’t be able to defeat it.”

Watching these excited players, Kelez shook his head slightly.

However, he understood their sentiment completely. In fact, when he had first arrived in this world, he had felt the same excitement.

“Chosen ones, our time is limited. Let us complete what we came here to do first. Prepare for battle.”

At Kelez’s reminder, the ten players immediately grew serious and fell silent.

They cast various enhancement spells upon themselves, drew their weapons, and readily prepared for battle.

A trace of approval flickered in Kelez’s eyes.

Then his expression turned stern.

“Everyone, hand over the registration badges in your possession.”

The ten players complied at once.

Kelez’s gaze sharpened as he crushed all the badges in his hand.

Immediately, wisps of faint black mist began to seep out from the shattered fragments.

The mist spread rapidly, attempting to invade Kelez’s body. However, with a cold snort, he purified it into nothingness using a divine spell he had prepared in advance.

At the moment the mist was cleansed, a subtle fluctuation radiated outward from Kelez.

In the next instant, the players noticed that the fish and shrimp swimming nearby suddenly paused.

Then, as if influenced by some unseen force, they all launched into a frenzied assault on their group.

Not far away, various ferocious-looking fish also charged toward them as though driven mad.

From even greater distances, several far more powerful presences began to stir, surging toward their location.

Vaguely, enormous silhouettes could be seen in the distance.

Most unsettling of all, the players seemed to hear once again that familiar whale’s cry.

“Quick! Call upon the name of the Goddess, now!”

Kelez shouted.

At his command, he and the players began to pray together:

“Praise be to nature, Praise be to life, Praise be to the Great Goddess of Life, Evé!”

As their voices fell, golden radiance erupted from their bodies, and a stone arch gate manifested above them.

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